Peripheral support for revolving radome



' ESEAHUH HUUIV! Jan. 22, 1963 P. w. PEAY 3,075,191

PERIPHERAL SUPPORT FOR REVOLVING RADOME Filed Aug. 21, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ll- 28 j INVENTOR. PAUL W. PE Y BY 2m KLLM s ATTDRNEYS Jan. 22, 1963 P. yv. PEAY 3,075,191

PERIPHERAL SUPPORT FOR REVOLVING RADOME Filed Aug. 21, 1961 3 SheetsSheet 2 5 Fig-E INVENTOR. PAUL w PEA BY WW ATTOR N E Y S Jan. 2.2, 1963 P. w. PEAY PERIPHERAL SUPPORT FOR REVOLVING RADOME 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 21, 1961 INVENTOR. PAUL W. PEAY BY "M @QQJ ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,075,191 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 3,075,191 PERIPHERAL SUPPORT FOR REVOLVING RADOME Paul W. Peay, Falls Church, Va., assignor, by mesue assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed- Aug. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 132,994 9 Claims. (Cl. 343-872) This invention relates to a peripheral support for revolving radomes and, more particularly, to a supporting and bearing unit adaptable to lightweight, inflatable, foldable, revolving radomes.

While efforts have been made to provide mounting sup port for inflatable radomes, which protect and revolve with the feed horn and parabolic reflecting apparatus, the results obtained have been unsatisfactory because of tearing or abrasion of the inflated material. The advantages of using inflatable radome structures including the support for the parabolic reflector, become evident in the ease of transportation and the minimal storage space requirement since the device can be transported and stored in deflated and folded condition. Further, such structures will be extremely light in weight and add a negligible load weight component. The invention is an improvement over devices such as are shown in the patent to Miller, 2,814,03 8.

Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 is a schematic crosssectional view of a parabolic reflector, its protecting radome, and shelter support.

FIG. 2 is a cross section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the radome support and bearing.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the radar antenna structure includes a parabolic reflector which is carried on a collapsible element 12. The element is held in position by the high pressure inflated tire element 13 to present a parabolic surface in the manner shown in FIG. 2. The reflector 10 may be of any desired form, for example, a metallic deposit. The antenna structure also includes a feed horn 14 mounted in a supporting structure indicated by the numeral 16, including plate 18 and ring 19. The inflatable spherical radome envelope 20 is attached to the sleeve 22 which serves as a vertical drive shaft. The structure 12 is also attached to the sleeve 22 through supporting structure 16 and plate 18. A driving mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 24 and comprised of a gear 26 and motor 28 are shown schematically in FIG. 1, and can be of any conventional construction. The radome envelope 20 and the high pressure tire 13 are inflated by means not shown, and which form no part of the present invention.

The whole revolving structure is mounted and supported on a stationary ground anchored arm 27, attached to the drive shaft and sleeve 22 through a central bearing 29. Upwardly inclined driving arms 30 have attachment to the rotating sleeve 22 at their inner ends, and transmit driving torque to the radome envelope by means of their attachment at their outer ends to a strip of rubberized fabric or other lightweight reinforcing material, which is sealed to the inside surface of the radome 20 as shown in FIG. 3.

A bearing and supporting device is located outside and at the periphery of the radome envelope 20. It comprises an inflated circular tube or toroidal element (see FIG. 3) secured to the exterior surface of the radome 20 in the area adjacent the reinforcing strips 32 and 34. This is done by any conventional or expedient means, and in the present instance, is effected by a gasket 38 and a strip 59.

A bearing device for the support of the revolving envelope comprises a bracket 48 such as the one shown in FIG. 3, secured to the ground anchored structure 46. It may be a continuous element throughout the extent of the support 46, or it may be a series of brackets placed at selected intervals. Each bracket 48 is provided with a pair of flanges 50 extending at an upward angle approximating 45 and in parallel relationship. Spools or rollers 52 are mounted on axles 54 which are journaled or other wise fixed in the arms 50 at selected intervals. The axle pins lie parallel to the tangent to the radome sphere which touches the sphere at its point of contact with the tube 36, and also intersects the axis of the vertical drive shaft.

Spools 52 are formed with deep concavities for accommodating and providing a bearing for the torus 36. The two ends of the spools 52 are identical and divided members 56 and 58. The divided members are adapted to revolve independently and at different rates if necessary to accommodate the increment of difference in the rate of the diverse areas of the toroid on diverse circular paths of movement.

For protection of the bearing device, a flap 40 is secured to the outer surface of the radome 20 as shown at 42 well above the bearing. A depending, protective flap 44 snaps onto or is otherwise secured to the flap 40 and hangs down over the open space between the exterior surface of the radome 20 and the structure 46.

While the invention is shown and described in connection with one form for illustrative, rather than restrictive purposes, it is obvious that changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. In an inflatable rotatable radome construction of the character described, an inflatable spherical radome envelope adapted to enclose the radar antenna structure therein, means providing a central bearing for said radome envelope, a vertical driving shaft mounted for rotation in said central bearing, upwardly inclined radially extending driving arms secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, a reinforcing band secured to the inner side of said envelope and lying in a chordwise plane normal to the axis of said vertical driving shaft, means connecting said reinforcing band to the terminal portions of said driving arms for transmitting driving torque to said envelope, a circular inflatable tube secured to the exterior of said envelope in the plane of said reinforcing band, a ground engaging supporting structure, a plurality of rollers circumferentially disposed about said supporting structure, said rollers being adapted to engage said inflatable tube to provide a rotational and load support for said radome envelope.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1, in which said plurality of rollers are each supported for rotation about an inclined axis parallel to a tangent line intersecting the axis of said vertical driving shaft and contacting said radome envelope at the point of contact of said inflatable tube therewith, said rollers being in the form of two relatively rotatable parts complementally formed to provide a semicircular groove to engage said inflatable tube.

3. In an inflatable spherical rotatable radome construction of the character described, an inflatable radome envelope adapted to enclose the radar antenna structure therein, means providing a central bearing for said radome envelope, a vertical driving shaft mounted for rotation in said central bearing, upwardly inclined driving arms secured to said shaft for rotation therewith at an inner end of each and to separated locations on the interior surface of said radome at an outer end of each, a peripheral sup port for said radome envelope when in inflated condition comprising a toroidal inflated element secured to the exterior of said radome at a horizontal circle on the surface of said radome and at an area to include the point of attachment of said drive arm, a ground anchored supporting structure, spool rollers mounted on said structure for rotation about an axis of said rollers, said axis being parallel to the tangent to said spherical radome which passes through the point of contact of said radome and said toroidal element and intersects also the axis of said vertical drive shaft, said spool roller having a concaved bearing surface for receiving and forming a bearing for said toroidal inflated element, and a protective flap attached to the exterior of said radome envelope and hanging down to close the space between said envelope and said ground anchored support.

4. A peripheral support and bearing for an inflatable radome envelope comprising a toroidal inflatable element secured to the exterior of said radome, and lying in a horizontal plane below the horizontal great circle of said radome, an annular support, bracket means having two parallel spaced flanges extending at approximately 45 with respect to said support structure, a plurality of axle pins mounted in said brackets, a spool roller mounted on each of said axle pins, a concave surface formed on said spool for receiving and forming a bearing for said toroidal member.

'5. A peripheral support and bearing for an inflatable radome comprising a toroidal inflatable element secured to the exterior surface of said radome, a ground anchored stationary supporting and sheltering structure, a bracket on said structure, parallel spaced arms on said bracket, an axle pin rigidly mounted in said arms, a spool rotatably mounted on said axle pin, a concave surface formed on said spool for receiving and forming a bearing for said toroidal member, said spool comprising independent and separated members adapted for independent rotation.

6. IA. peripheral support for an inflatable radome envelope comprising an inflatable toroidal element secured to the exterior surface of said inflatable radome envelope,

bearing and supporting means for said toroidal element, said bearing and supporting means comprising a stationary ground anchored support, a spool mounted for rotation on said stationary support, a concavity on said spool for receiving said toroidal element and forming a bearing therefor.

-7. A peripheral support for an inflated radome envelope comprising an inflated tubular ring element secured to the exterior surface of said inflated radome, bearing and supporting means for said toroidal element, said bearing and supporting means comprising a stationary ground anchored support, a spool mounted for rotation on said stationary support, a concavity on said spool for receiving said tubular ring element and forming a bearing therefor, said spool comprising divided and independently rotating elements.

8. In an inflatable radome construction, an inflated parabolic reflector, means for causing rotation of said radome and reflector, said means comprising an arm attached at one end to the interior surface of said radome, and at its inner end connected to a motor, a toroidal element secured to the exterior surface of said radome in the area adjacent the attachment of said arm, a bearing for said toroidal element comprising a concave surfaced spool mounted for rotation in a stationary support.

9. In an inflatable radome construction, an inflated parabolic reflector, means for causing rotation of said radome and reflector, said means comprising an arm attached at one end to the interior surface of said radome, and at its inner end to a motor, a toroidal element secured to the exterior surface of said radome in the area adjacent the attachment of said arm, bearing and supporting means for said toroidal element.

No references cited. 

1. IN AN INFLATABLE ROTATABLE RADOME CONSTRUCTION OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, AN INFLATABLE SPHERICAL RADOME ENVELOPE ADAPTED TO ENCLOSE THE RADAR ANTENNA STRUCTURE THEREIN, MEANS PROVIDING A CENTRAL BEARING FOR SAID RADOME ENVELOPE, A VERTICAL DRIVING SHAFT MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN SAID CENTRAL BEARING, UPWARDLY INCLINED RADIALLY EXTENDING DRIVING ARMS SECURED TO SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, A REINFORCING BAND SECURED TO THE INNER SIDE OF SAID ENVELOPE AND LYING IN A CHORDWISE PLANE NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF SAID VERTICAL DRIVING SHAFT, MEANS CONNECTING SAID REINFORCING BAND TO THE TERMINAL PORTIONS OF SAID DRIVING ARMS FOR TRANSMITTING DRIVING TORQUE TO SAID ENVELOPE, A CIRCULAR INFLATABLE TUBE SECURED TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID ENVELOPE IN THE PLANE OF SAID REINFORCING BAND, A GROUND ENGAGING SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED ABOUT SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, SAID ROLLERS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID INFLATABLE TUBE TO PROVIDE A ROTATIONAL AND LOAD SUPPORT FOR SAID RADOME ENVELOPE. 